FootForward Innovative Training for the Diabetic Foot Treatment in Vulnerable Communities in Colombia and Peru
Diabetic foot is a serious condition that affects many diabetes patients, with the most severe cases leading to limb amputations. This problem is exacerbated in vulnerable communities where there is a lack of accurate information about this condition. In this context, Inescop is participating in the FootForward project to improve healthcare training on diabetic foot for teaching staff in contact with vulnerable communities in Colombia and Peru.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people in Latin America and is growing steadily in countries such as Colombia and Peru, according to data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). With more than five million patients diagnosed in both countries, it is essential to promote synergies between the population, educational institutions and the healthcare system to prevent associated complications, such as diabetic foot, a condition that in its most severe cases can lead to amputations and is exacerbated by the lack of specialised studies in podiatry.
This problem is even more serious in vulnerable communities in Colombia and Peru, where access to healthcare services and educational resources on self-care is limited. This is the context in which FootForward emerged, an innovative project aimed at improving healthcare for diabetic patients with at-risk feet by strengthening the academic training of teaching staff and improving preventive and care capabilities in the healthcare environment.
OBJECTIVES
1. To strengthen the academic training of teaching staff in higher education institutions and healthcare providers in Colombia and Peru.
2. To foster collaboration and create synergies between higher education institutions, healthcare providers and key stakeholders.
3. To improve healthcare for diabetic patients with 'at-risk' feet and ensure that vulnerable communities benefit from project activities through educational sessions.
4. To raise awareness among key actors in diabetic foot care and treatment and influence public health policies and educational practices.
5. To promote inclusion and sustainability in education by incorporating gender equality and environmental considerations into project activities.
EXPECTED RESULTS
1. Capacity-building programme to improve skills and strengthen the training of academic staff.
2. Improvement of the skills of healthcare professionals, biomedical engineers, technology developers and suppliers.
3. Practical training focused on vulnerable target communities.
4. Improved awareness of diabetic foot.
5. Creation of synergies between different stakeholders to promote health and education policies that include the treatment of diabetic foot.
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD
Start date: 01/11/2025
End date: 31/10/2028
PROJECT: 101236635 — FootForward | CALL: [ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE] — [CAPACITY BUILDING IN HIGHER EDUCATION]
FootForward project contributes to SDGs:
PROJECT PARTNERS
Project funded by:
Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.